Virtual reality (VR) engineer. One of many potential culture-changers is virtual reality technology. In fact, Goldman Sachs expects VR related sales to top $110 billion within the next ten years, effectively overtaking television. Virtual reality engineers will bring a diverse arsenal of skills to the table, including: computer graphics, mobile application development, WebGL, and Computer Vision.

Chief Internet of Things Officer (CIoTO). The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly growing all around us. From smart refrigerators, to thermostats, it seems we are moving into a future where all our devices will be in communication. This represents a universe of potential for companies to capitalize on. CIoTOs help companies develop products, and refine existing products and services, with one overarching goal: harnessing all that potential.

Internet of things architect. The IoT is most likely the “next big thing”. IT pros specializing in machine to machine (M2M) communication, and human to machine interaction are sure to become more and more in demand.

Innovation manager. Typically working under the chief innovation officer, the primary objective of an innovation manager is to develop cutting edge products, operations, or services. These creative thinkers should be skilled digital strategist, eager to take on whatever challenges may come their way.

Cognitive computing engineer. While similar, there is a difference between cognitive computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Cognitive computing is more like an extension of the user’s mind-it processes information to help, for example, a doctor makes a treatment decision. AI, on the other hand, tells the doctor what to do based on it’s analytics. Cognitive computing engineers are likely to provide assistance in everything from medicine to law enforcement.

GPU cluster engineer. Companies faced with the task of managing massive data sets, such as Experian and Facebook, benefit from GPU computing’s lightning-quick efficiency. CPU cluster engineering and large-scale data management are the core skills for this position-albeit, a difficult combination to track down.

Do you really need a specialist?

For those not tuned into the chaotic rhythm of information and technology, keeping up with the latest advantages can be difficult. In that respect, simply hiring a general IT specialist might seem like an easy solution, however, it can also be costly.

In many cases, specific tasks require specific skills. Whether it’s one of IT’s newly manifested professions, or a more traditional role, determining when to call in a specialist can be a difficult, but significant task. If you’d like to learn more about hiring an IT specialist, check out our blog: “IT Specialists are Crucial to Project Success”.